Here are just a few of the chamber reamers that I have prints for.
There are hundreds of .223/5.56 chamber dimensions and
I always get a kick out of people arguing over whether
a rifle has a .223 or a 5.56 chamber. Just because it
has a .223 chamber, does not mean it's the same as
another rifle with a .223 chamber. Both reamers may say .223
on them, but they may be very much different. Also, everyone
just knows the .223 is smaller than the 5.56, well the 5.56
Target chamber is smaller in about every dimension than the .223 Wylde.

The COAL for the 80 grain SMK is an ESTIMATE based on bullet empirical data and from chamber prints. The actual COAL in your rifle may be different, even though it has that specified chamber. The number is supplied to help identify a chamber if it is unknown or as an aid in selecting the proper chamber reamer (bullet seated further out means you can get more powder in the case).

Chamber

Freebore

Lead Angle

80SMK OAL

Comments

5.56Target

.0566

1 deg,13 min

2.465

This was designed by a C. Hildebrandt at Savage. I believe it is used in the savage .223 rifles.
I do not have this reamer, but it should work well for HP.

.223JGS#514

.025

3 deg,10 min

2.435

I believe this is used by Krieger and Mike Bykowski. I use it for slow twist varmint uppers but I think it is a little short,
and too steep of a lead for HP.

.223Wylde

.0619

1 deg,15 min

2.475

Designed by Bill Wylde. Shoots everything good, and has slightly generous body dimensions for reliability.
Eats anything you put in it.

.223Holliger

.106

1 deg,15 min

2.530

Designed for the 90 JLK. The longer throat allows a little more velocity.

5.56CLE

.025

1 deg,30 min

2.450

Of course we all know Frank's rifles shoot just fine!

5.56Bushmaster

.0250

1 deg,30 min

2.450-2.475

Info from Bushmaster (thanks!). These are one of the best out-of-the box barrels, and handle up to 80 gr bullets no problemo.

PRIMER CUP DIMENSIONS

Manufacturer

Number

A

B

C

Cup

Cup

Cup

Thickness

Diameter

Height

Small
Rifle

CCI

400

.020"

.1753"

.109"

450

.025"

.1750"

.113"

BR4

.025"

.1755"

.109"

Federal

200

.019"

.1757"

.111"

205M

.0225"

.1744"

.1075"

Remington

6 1/2

.020"

.1753"

.109"

7 1/2

.025"

.1752"

.110"

Winchester

SR

.021"

.1750"

.109"

Large
Rifle

CCI

200

.027"

.2112"

.118"

250

.027"

.2113"

.118"

Federal

210

.027"

.2120"

.117"

215

--

--

--

Remington

9 1/2

.027"

.2100"

.119"

Winchester

LR

.027"

.2114"

.121"

Mag

.027"

.2114"

.121"

from Calhoon

CASE WEIGHT

Below is the result of a random sampling of 25 cases with a scale of .0001g sensitivity. I do not vouche for the accuracy of this data for current production cases from the commercial manufacturers, since this is a bit dated. It is presented here to show the variablity of case weights - and case volume - for several common headstamps, and the care that must be taken when loading newly sourced brass.

CASE MAN.

HEAVY

LIGHT

MEAN

E.S.

Sd

Lapua

104.10

100.42

102.21

3.68

1.14

PMC

94.80

93.40

93.89

1.41

.58

LC 70

95.77

91.90

93.30

3.88

.86

LC 81

94.00

91.73

92.98

2.27

.56

WCC 85

93.3

91.2

92.31

2.1

.54

R-P

93.55

90.01

91.55

3.54

.97

TW 72

92.68

89.09

91.12

3.44

.66

Federal

92.62

87.71

90.25

4.90

1.23

Winchester

89.34

88.12

88.78

1.21

.39

from American Rifleman

THE DATA IN THE FOLLOWING TABLES ARE FOR REFERENCE USE ONLY. THESE
ARE THE LOADS BEING USED BY THE BEST SR SHOOTERS IN THE COUNTRY, AND ARE
ACCURATE, 'SAFE' LOADS IN THEIR RIFLES. BY NO MEANS USE THIS DATA AS A
STARTING POINT WITHOUT REDUCING THE LOADS AT LEAST 10% AND WORK UP, BEING
OBSERVANT OF PRESSURE SIGNS.

SORRY, BUT IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT 'PRESSURE SIGNS' ARE, GO AWAY, THIS IS NOT FOR YOU. THIS IS NOT BEGINNER'S STUPH.

AS ANY HP GUY WILL TELL YOU, THESE LOADS MAY BE NEAR THE PHYSICAL LIMITS OF THE COMPONENTS USED, INCLUDING THE RIFLE. IN THE WORDS OF PAT MC., "YOU CAN BUY YOURSELF ANOTHER RIFLE, BUT YOU CANNOT BUY YOURSELF ANOTHER HEAD." *PLEASE, NO DARWIN AWARD NOMINEES!

PRESSURE, EXTREMELY SIMPLIFIED

Cases above left demonstrate too low and 'normal' pressures.
The case at far left, the mouth did not obturate, so the case body is sooty. The case on the right shows that the mouth has sealed off the chamber from the burning powder's gas and ash, so the case is clean except for the neck. Sooty cases in AR15's may also result from the case being extracted while there is still pressurized soot laden gas in the bore. The extraction breaks the seal and allows the soot to be deposited. The amount of soot will vary between powders.

The primers at the right show increasing pressure as you go up. The bottom primer was fired with no projectile/powder. Notice the rounded firing pin impression and primer cup edges. Next one shows primer semi-flattened, still rounded corners, a very tiny crater. The third shows well cratered primer, more flat, less rounded cup - on the verge of piercing. The top shows a pierced primer. Depending upon the temperature sensitivity of your powder and differences between test
and 'deployment' temps, stay within the lower two primer states. If you test in cool weather loads that are to be used in hot summer months, and you see serious cratering, you can count on pierced or blown primers (primers that unseat). Pierced primers will discharge gas thru the bolt, and cause firing pin damage.

There are devices made for the AR15 - carrier weights and some cycling rate reducers - that are designed to increase the dwell time - the time the bolt stays closed after ignition - that will alleviate some of the sooting and also help support the primers longer so they don't pierce or get unseated. There is also a redesigned AR15 carrier and bolt assembly that will do the same thing.

AR15 SERVICE
RIFLE PET LOADS w/ SPECIFIC DATA

Bullet

Moly

Powder

Wt.

Primer

Case

Chamber

OAL

Vel.

es/sd

77 SMK

na

A2520

24.5

WSR

Win

CLE

2.260

2675

na

80 SMK

na

R-15

24.5

WSR

LC

CLE

.010 off

2630

na

80 SMK

na

A2520

24.5

WSR

LC

CLE

.010 off

2645

na

68 H

Y

TAC

25.5

R7.5

WIN

na

2.260

2924

sd=8

75 AMAX

Y

TAC

24.5

205M

WIN

na

.020 off

2747

sd=15

69 SMK

na

N140

24.8

R7.5

LC

na

2.260

na

na

77 SMK

na

N140

24.3

R7.5

LC

na

2.260

na

na

80 SMK

na

N140

24.3

R7.5

LC

na

na

2750+

na

69 SMK

N

R-15

25.0

R7.5

LC

Wylde

2.260

2800

na

77 SMK

N

R-15

24.0

R7.5

LC

Wylde

2.260

2715

na

80 SMK

N

R-15

24.5

R7.5

WIN

Wylde

.015 off

2730

na

80 JLK

N

R-15

25.0

R7.5

WIN

Wylde

.020 in

na

na

80 SMK

N

IMR4064

24.0

na

na

CLE

na

na

na

77 SMK

N

IMR4064

23.7

na

na

CLE

na

na

na

77 SMK

na

TAC

23.0

na

na

Wylde

2.225

na

na

80 SMK

na

N135

23.0

na

na

Wylde

2.480

na

na

80 SMK

na

4895

23.0-.3

na

na

Wylde

2.480

na

na

69 SMK

na

4895PD

24.5

WSR

LC

na

2.260

na

na

80 SMK

na

4895PD

23.5

WSR

LC

na

2.450

na

na

80 SMK

Y

N550

25.3

BR4

LC

na

.015 off

na

na

80 SMK

Y

N150

25.5

BR4

LC

na

.015 off

na

na

69 SMK

Y

CMR100

23.0

R7.5

Rem

BM

2.260

2800

na

75 AMAX

Y

CMR100

23.0

R7.5

Rem

BM

.020 off

2735

na

80 SMK

Y

CMR100

23.0

R7.5

Rem

BM

.020 off

2700

na

69 SMK

na

H322

23.0

R7.5

Rem

na

2.260

na

na

80 SMK

na

H322

23.0

R7.5

Rem

na

na

na

na

80 SMK

N

Varget

25.0

BR4

LC

CLE

.010 off

na

na

77 SMK

N

Varget

24.5

BR4

LC

CLE

2.260

na

na

75 H

N

Varget

24.4

BR4

LC

CLE

2.260

na

na

80 SMK

Y

Varget

25.0

450

LC

CLE

.010 off

2710

na

69 SMK

Y

N540

26.2

450

LC

Wylde

2.260

na

na

80 BRGR

Y

N540

26.1

450

LC

Wylde

.020 in

na

na

52 SMK

Y

N540

29.0

450

LC

H6.5

2.280

na

na

69 SMK

Y

N540

25.9

450

LC

H6.5

2.250

na

na

77 SMK

Y

N540

25.9

450

LC

H6.5

2.250

na

na

90 JLK

Y

N540

25.7

450

LC

H6.5

2.615 @.025 in

na

na

77 SMK

na

H4895

23.0

WSR

LC

Wylde

2.260

2665

sd=23.8

80 SMK

na

H4895

23.0

WSR

LC

Wylde

2.425

2683

sd=23.9

52 SMK

na

N140

25.2

R7.5

RP

Wylde

<2.260

3050

na

52 SMK

na

R15

25.5

R7.5

RP

Wylde

<2.260

3000

na

69 SMK

N

N140

24.5

450

WIN

?

?

?

?

80 SMK

N

N140

24.5

BR4

WIN

?

.015 off

2775

?

69 SMK

Y

N135

23.5

450

LC

CLE

2.245

2757

?

69 SMK

Y

N133

22.9

450

LC

CLE

2.245

2830

?

80 SMK

Y

N140

25.0

450

LC

CLE

.015 off

?

?

69 SMK

na

2520

26.8

400

LC

?

<2.260

3100

?

68 H

na

2520

26.8

400

LC

?

<2.260

3100

?

75 H

na

2520

24.8

400

LC

?

<2.260

2785

?

75 AMAX

na

2520

24.8

400

LC

?

>2.260

2785

?

68 H

na

Varget

25

WSR

LC

Wylde

<2.260

?

?

75 H

na

Varget

24.6

WSR

LC

Wylde

<2.260

?

?

75 AMAX

na

Varget

24.6

WSR

LC

Wylde

>2.260

?

?

75 H

Y

R-15

24.0

WSR

WIN

?

<2.260

?

?

If you have a favorite load that is not here or listed incompletely,
please email it to me. There's plenty
of room for more! Some people have submitted incomplete data, so here
are a few guidelines. Molyed bullet powder charges in comparison to nekkid
ones may run a little heavier to achieve the same velocity. If the moly
factor is 'na' (not available), assume nekkid bullet and therefore higher
pressures, just to err on the safe side when beginning a work-up. 600
yard 80 SMK loads (and other heavyweights) are usually jumped .010 to
.020 to the lands. VLD bullets (JLK, et al) are typically seated at .005
to .020 INTO the rifling. Chambering, throat erosion, how you size your
cases (eg neck tension) and barrel harmonics will determine the sweet
spot for best accuracy. Highest velocity isn't the goal - accuracy is.
If the two are coincidental, though, great!!

AR15 SERVICE
RIFLE LOADS

Bullet

Ideal
MV

H4895

Varget

R-15

748

N140

N150

N540

4895PD

TAC

846

loads for
200-300-600, COAL at mag length or less

SMK 50

3100

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

SMK 52

3100

25.0

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

H 68

2650

?

25

?

?

?

?

?

?

25.5

?

H 75

2650

22.5

24.4

24.0

?

?

?

?

?

24.5

24.1

SMK 69

2900

24.0

24.8

24.5

?

24.8

?

?

?

25.5

25

SMK 77

2700

23.5

23.5

23.7

23.3

24.5

?

25.0

24

23.0

24.1

loads for
600, COAL over mag length max

75 H

2650

?

24.4

?

?

?

?

?

?

24.1

24.1

80 SMK

2650

23.1

24.8

24.5

?

24.3

25.5

?

24.2

23.5

24.1

80 JLK

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

90 JLK

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

Special loads
for 6.5 twist bbls w/ Holliger chamber

52 SMK

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

29.0
@2.280

?

?

?

69 SMK

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

25.9

?

?

?

77 SMK

?

?

?

23.8

?

?

?

25.9

?

?

?

80 SMK

?

?

?

24.4

?

?

?

25.7
@.010 off

?

?

?

90 JLK

?

?

?

24.0(hot)

?

?

?

25.2 @.030 in

?

24.0 @.030 in

?

Special loads
for 6.5 twist bbls w/ Wylde chamber

77 SMK

?

?

24.8

?

?

23.0

?

?

?

?

?

80 JLK

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

24.0 @.030 in

?

?

?

80 SMK

?

?

24.8

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

90 JLK

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

24.0 @030 in

?

?

?

M1A AND
GARAND 308 SERVICE RIFLE LOADS

Bullet

Ideal V

H4895

Varget

R-15

4064

2520

748

IMR4895

846

IMPORTANT NOTES!!

*bullets 147-173 gr seated to COAL 2.80-2.83. Others are longer. Advise use CCI 34 primers to prevent slamfires*
*care must be taken when choosing brass as mil spec and commercial cases have different volumes- work up loads.*
*190 grain bullet load data is for long range and are for bullets seated longer than mag length*
*use of a pressure bleed off gas plug is highly recommended for heavier bullet use and safety*